MMS: Holden Coupe 60

[Poetic Justice]

HOLDEN FANS GET 60th ANNIVERSARY PRESENT

GM Holden today marked the diamond anniversary of its first all Australian car by unveiling a stunning two-door performance thoroughbred called Coupe 60.

Coupe 60 celebrates the six decades since GM Holden built the 48-215 at its Fishermans Bend plant in Port Melbourne, Victoria, and provides a glimpse of Holden’s future directions in design, engineering and emerging engine technologies.

Exemplifying sports luxury, Coupe 60 is a pillarless concept car that explores the limits of Holden’s current rear-wheel drive capabilities, combining racing looks and technology into a road going sportscar experience.

Its sophisticated appearance is delivered through simple and powerful design, highlighted by the pillarless construction and V8 supercar inspired cockpit layout and side-exiting chambered exhaust system with billet alloy tips.

Almost 60mm shorter than the VE sedan, and sitting on 21-inch centre-lock alloy wheels with unique design Kumho high performance semi-slick tyres, Coupe 60 captures all that’s exciting about the Holden DNA.

Other racing-derived enhancements include full flat under body, rear underbody air diffuser and functional rear deck-lid spoiler with unique designed LED tail lamps.

The interior also has several unique features. They include one piece carbon fiber bucket seats (featuring leather and suede pad design) and a sports-inspired flat bottomed steering wheel with integrated shift light display and LCD sports instrument cluster.

The high gloss carbon fiber carries through to doors and rear trim providing a contrast to the leather trimmed instrument panel and black suede trimmed pillars, headliners and parcel shelf.

Details and accents are picked out with a distinctive red high shine leather on the seats and dark gunmetal finish and satin chrome on the consoles and doors.

Front seats are adjustable fore and aft to allow easy access to the rear, with four-point race harness restraints for all seating positions.

Under the bonnet is just as forward looking, with a 6.0 litre V8 engine incorporating the latest technologies such as active fuel management and calibrated for E85 ethanol fuel.

Even the paint is a one-off. Called ‘Diamond Silver’ by Holden designers, it gives a liquid aluminium finish that almost slides off the bodywork.

GM Holden Chairman and Managing Director Mark Reuss said, “Coupe 60 is Holden's 60th anniversary gift to its fans worldwide.

“It highlights Holden’s heritage of rear wheel drive performance whilst looking ahead to the potential offered by new technologies and materials.

“This is a vehicle I know our designers would dearly love to see go into production, but for the moment it has to remain a concept only,” he said.

Project Designer Manager, Peter Hughes, said, “We were looking to mark the diamond anniversary with a car that captured the Holden DNA and took the current VE range to an exciting next step.

“Even in the early stages of VE development, we knew there was a sensational coupe waiting to get out and the 60 th anniversary has given us the chance to explore that.

“With Coupe 60 we think we have designed a car that has the potential to write another chapter in the book of Holden icons.”

Coupe 60 – Specifications and Features (Coupe 60 overlaid on VE Sedan)



Main Features:
Pillarless coupe body;
Derived from flexible GRWD platform;
VE sedan wheelbase.

Powertrain:
6.0L V8 with Active Fuel Management, calibrated for E85 Ethanol fuel;
6-speed manual transmission (SS specification);
Engine oil cooler.

Exterior:
Unique ”Diamond Silver” paint colour;
Electrically dropping front & rear side windows;
Racing-derived aerodynamic down-force enhancements:

Rear under-body air diffuser;
Full flat under body;
Functional rear deck-lid spoiler;
21-inch centre-lock alloy wheels;
Unique design Kumho high-performance semi-slick tyres;
High-performance Brembo brake hardware with ducted air cooling for front callipers;
Side-exiting chambered exhaust system with billet alloy tips;
Unique design LED tail lamps;
Exterior mirrors with integral LED side markers.

Interior:
V8-Supercar inspired cockpit layout for enhanced driver visibility and spaciousness;
LCD sports instrument cluster located in a unique column-mounted binnacle;
One-piece carbon fiber bucket seats, featuring unique suede-pad design and distinctive red high shine leather accents;
Front seats are adjustable fore-aft and allow easy access to rear;
Four-point race harness restraints for all seating positions;
Unique sports-inspired flat-bottom steering wheel with integrated shift light display and suede grips;
Unique interior details including air vents, column switches, gear shift knob and pedals.

Interior trim.
Perforated leather trimmed instrument panel;
Black suede trimmed pillars, headliner and parcel shelf;
High gloss carbon fiber used as a structural material for seats, doors and rear trim provides contrast to leather and suede trim;
Details and accents are picked out with red high shine leather, a dark gunmetal finish and satin chrome

[Poetic Justice]

Nice car, definitely.

Show stealer from FG and Veyron? I don't think that it's going to reach Holden's main objective there, but we'll see.

[loxxr6]

Originally Posted by SCUD

Nice car, definitely.

Show stealer from FG and Veyron? I don't think that it's going to reach Holden's main objective there, but we'll see.

A bit anticlimactic seeing as they said they were going to do something which knocks the socks off Ford. They did Monaro...oh sorry, Coupe60 before so it's not that big a suprise. Regardless of it's lack of suprise factor, it's not a bad looking car.

[TheSneakiness]

That is very nice actually.

[MITCHAY]

Looks nice. Particularly like the steering wheel with the LCD screen. The wheels are alright but I'm not a massive fan, likewise with the GTS-R

[FlipXW]

Noice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[XRQTR]

I just want one


Sound familiar, this is why Holden and HSV continue to outsell Ford and FPV, at a guess would this be the GTO headed for the U.S.?

And yes I really do want one

[DBourne]

jesus that is sexy.

[Julza]

that is a stunning piece of work by holden there... don't get me wrong i am the biggest ford fan and would never in a million years drive a holden but you really gotta give credit where credit is due. can't wait to see this one at the MMS.

cheers,
Julza

[flavze]

Now thas a nice lookin car, i'd have one in a flash if i could.

Coupe60>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >GTS-R

[zebby]

WOW

Talk about stealing the show, Ford who??? Oh yeah, Mondeo wagon, new Falcon, where???

[TZENU]

Now that is much much better looking than the GTS-R.... GTS-R running gear inside this coupe would be fun !! :evil3:

[AHMD6T]

That looks insane.

Not so sure about the Lanos-esque tail lights but other than that I'd go one in a quick flash!

[Powdered Toast Man]

Yeah gotta give it to those Holden designers, they know how to make a good looking coupe.

If they end up using it I hope HSV doesn't put their fugly nose on it and ruin it like they did with the GTO vs the Monaro.

[vanman_75]

nice on the outside , but, still got that retarted interiour ,must be something wrong with my taste, but i hate red!

[Polyal]

SOB'S!....LOL

Now it didn't take Einstein to work out that they where going to show some stuff off, but jesus!

I think its really nice, I was hoping to not go to the Holden stand but this just swayed me.

Also what is inspiring is the fact that im sure this was always on the cards. The Zeta platform has saved Holdens *** and lets hope that the yanks wake up and do similar. If GM are going to offer such cars then Ford (globally) would have to do something. Which leaves our platform the main driving force.

Either way we are going to get some nice cars.

Nice work holden, ya bastards...LOL

The rear diffuser is a bit much for me, the maloo version is nicer (cant believe I said that!)

[gregfx]

Holden get a new coupe, Ford gets a new stripe package...

[RPO83]

And people here wondered why Ford didn't reveal the Falcon here...the white flag is waving.

[Polyal]

Sorry if I missed it, but when will it be available? Or is it a concept at the moment, which means probably in two years or something.

[BAFalconXT]

I think it could be the new Monaro ;) If they get approval to build it. Obviously, they will probably tone it down a bit.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by BAFalconXT

I think it could be the new Monaro ;) If they get approval to build it. Obviously, they will probably tone it down a bit.

If they get approval? They will for sure IMO.

The only issue is export wise, it seems a similar concept to the Comaro, so why could they have two RWD coupes unless the Commodore version is aimed at a more luxury level and the Comaro is based on sportiness.

[BAFalconXT]

Originally Posted by Polyal

If they get approval? They will for sure IMO.

The only issue is export wise, it seems a similar concept to the Comaro, so why could they have two RWD coupes unless the Commodore version is aimed at a more luxury level and the Comaro is based on sportiness.

It would be the new Pontiac GTO, but they really need their "concept" to be liked within America to get approval.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by BAFalconXT

It would be the new Pontiac GTO, but they really need their "concept" to be liked within America to get approval.

And there you have it, I forgot about that POS.

GM are not stupid, and very rarely will they make a concept that does not introduce the public to future offerings. You shock the public now, get a reaction, and then work towards tailoring it; makes sense!

[GS608]

gees FPV need to life their game..Holden make two brand new cars, a coupe and a 7L Clubby and all FPV can do is add a stripe package and give it 30 more kW

[T3ts50]

That has got to be the hottest thing to ever wear a Holden badge.

This is like '98 all over one corner you got AU in one corner Monaro in the another.

[Poetic Justice]

True.. do you think if it makes it to production that it would still be pillarless?

[DeansXR8]

Originally Posted by SCUD

True.. do you think if it makes it to production that it would still be pillarless?

i hope it does,
that was one of the things i thought would have been cool in the VZ CV8 i had.
I do like the look of this though,holden followed the shape of the VT-VZ monaros which were just beautiful, a little unsure of the back end on this one but overall pretty sweet looking ride.
How tops would it be if the exhausts stayed in the production models!!

Now if holden hurry up and put it into production it will hopefully be in time for my next lease change over.
C'mon everyone show "overwhelming response" so it happens.

[Black F6]

I like that the look of that, come on Ford for FFS, wake up and smell the coffee

[blueoval]

Holden doing its job well AGAIN!

Dammit FORD you gonna lose potential clients if you dont do something bloody good soon.

[mcnews]

If that comes out anything like that it will probably be the next new car I buy.